2018 growing season fast approaching

Well it's been a while since I've made a post, but the start of the season is closer than many of us want to think. 

Next Saturday, March 24th, is the WBPANS winter meeting in Truro.  I will be giving a talk on Triaging Wild blueberry fields.  It will be a discussion on things to considered when deciding what to do with some of your more marginal fields.  I have also written a factsheet that goes along with that talk.  http://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Triaging-WBB-Fields.pdf

Also, I did a demo trial, looking at canopy penetration of using different spray nozzles, spray volumes and boom heights.  I will have the factsheet at the winter meeting but it is also on-line to look at. http://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Spray-coverage-demo-in-WBB.pdf

Essentially, the higher the boom, the less canopy penetration you get and the less consistent coverage you get in general.  Something to consider when setting up your sprayers for this season.

Hope to see everyone on Saturday.

Application Technology Training Session on November 25th in Moncton

In conjunction with the Canadian Weed Science Society, which is being held November 21-24 in Moncton, there is going to be a session on November 25th that focuses on the application of herbicides and pesticides in general for pesticide applicators.  This is a great opportunity for wild blueberry growers to learn from one of the leading Application Technology Professionals in the country.  For pesticide applicators from Nova Scotia this session will be worth 6 pesticide applicator re-certification points. Seating is limited so register early, see the information below.

Great Resource for Spraying

Pesticide spraying is one of the most technical things we do as farmers.  There is a lot to know and mistakes can cause loss of money, loss of pest control or even damage to the environment.

Sprayers 101 is a new webpage that helps break through the clutter of new technology and enable farmers to better under spraying.

Take a peak at this great website.

http://sprayers101.com/

Pesticide safety workshops

Farm Safety Nova Scotia and Perennia are partnering to offer a Safe and Efficient Use of Pesticides Workshop.  Presenters will be Peter Burgess and Carolyn Van Den Heuvel.  This workshop will focus on understanding the risks associated with pesticide use, ensuring necessary safety precautions are taken and highlighting efficiencies for pesticide application.  There will be an opportunity for trouble shooting discussions as well.  There will be pesticide recertification points available!  Workshops will run from 10am – 2pm. Dates and RSVP deadlines are as follows:

RSVP by February 18 for:

·        Feb 23 – North Sydney Exhibitions grounds.

·        Feb 24 – Antigonish Public Library

RSVP by March 5 for:

·        Mar 10 – Best Western Glengarry

·        Mar 11 – Berwick Fire Hall

·        Mar 12 – Oxford Lion’s Den

For more information or to RSVP contact info@farmsafetyns.ca or (902)893-2293.

Facebook page for this event

Sprayer Calibration Service

This is a great opportunity for growers who are having challenges with their sprayer, to get it calibrated and get some pesticide re-certification points.  There is a limited number of sprayers that can be calibrated through this program so don't delay. See the info below.

Pesticide Sprayer Calibration Service

The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture in cooperation with Crop Life Canada and the pesticide manufacturers, would like to announce they are offering a Pesticide Sprayer Calibration Service.

The service is free to Nova Scotia farmers and bookings can be made by calling the NSFA office at 893-2293. There will be 4 pesticide points available as part of the calibration.

Pesticide Applicator Recertification On-line Exam

Just a heads up for those who are interested, we have just posted another on-line exam where you can earn 0.5 points by answering the 10 questions (getting 8 right) and submitting it to Perennia.

The new exam can be found at www.perennia.ca

Go to the right side of the home page, under quick links you will see PRCP exams, click on this and it will take you to the exam and all of the instructions.

This exam focuses on pesticide application calculations.

Peter B

New Videos

Hi everybody,

It's been a while since my last post.  We are in the dead of winter now and it is a good time to review factsheets and hone up on skills you will need to use during the growing season.  At Perennia we have started a series of video posts on various topics that are designed to help growers understand different concepts.  The first one I have completed is boom sprayer calibration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL6XF5PJIwU. 

If you go to our homepage www.perennia.ca and click on the YouTube Icon on the right of the page you will see a series of short videos which include things like soil sampling etc.  I am also working on a couple more videos, fall weed id in blueberry and taking floral bud counts, that should be posted in the next month or so.

Let us know what you think of these videos and if you have any ideas for others.

Also in the coming weeks keep an eye out for the Wild Blueberry BMP webpage.  we ae getting ready to launch this.  It will be a directory to all the critical resources and management startegies for blueberry growers in NS.

Keep warm

PeterB

Wild Blueberry Sprayer Calibration Tune-up sessions

AgraPoint along with Environmental Farm Plan and WBPANS are hosting two sprayer tune-up sessions. These, two hour, evening sessions will focus on sprayer calibration, nozzle selection, sprayer maintenance and making your sprayers work efficiently.

April 20th – 6:30-8:30 – Truro, AgriTECH Park, Main Administration Building.
April 27th – 6:30-8:30 – Parrsboro, Parrsboro Fire Hall

Outline of topics
- Sprayer calibration
- Look at nozzle drift potential using a spray tub
Look at different nozzle types
- Look at pump and pump maintenance
- Discuss ways to improve sprayer efficiency

No registration fee

Pesticide applicator recertification points will be available